Teleostei (teleosts) >
Anguilliformes (Eels and morays) >
Muraenidae (Moray eels) > Muraeninae
Etymology: Gymnothorax: Greek, gymnos = naked + Greek, thorax, -akos = breast (Ref. 45335); cephalospilus: From the Greek kephale meaning head and spilos meaning spot. Noun in apposition.
More on authors: Böhlke & McCosker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 125 - 134 m (Ref. 41234). Subtropical
Indo-West Pacific: eastern and western Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.2 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 41234)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 142 - 146. A small, slender, dark brown moray with contrasting eye-sized white spots on head; spots fewer toward anus, very few or lacking on tail; anus at midbody, preanal length 2.0 in TL; depth at gill opening 18-22 in TL; head 8.2-9.3 in TL; teeth stout, no long canines; MVF 6-64-145.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Böhlke, E.B. and J.E. McCosker, 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Rec. Aust. Mus. 53(1):71-102. (Ref. 41234)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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